Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty, released on $5M bond

Trail Blazers coach and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges that he participated in and profited from rigged poker games, Philip Marcelo of the Associated Press reports. He was released on a $5M bond secured by his family’s Colorado home.

Per his bond agreement, he must refrain from gambling and can have no contact with other defendants or alleged victims. He has surrendered his passport and can only travel to seven states, including Oregon and New York. Billups and his co-defendants, including ex-NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones, appeared for a status conference on Monday and are due back in court on March 4.

The judge told all the attorneys at Monday’s proceedings that his intention is to expedite things and start trial by September of 2026, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN tweets.

Billups was placed on unpaid leave by the NBA after his arrest in late October, shortly after the team’s opening game. The court process essentially assures that Billups won’t return to coaching for at least the remainder of this season. Tiago Splitter has been serving as the team’s interim coach in his absence.

Prosecutors said Monday that plea negotiations have begun with some defendants, according to Marcelo. Billups’ lawyer, Marc Mukasey, entered his client’s not guilty plea. They declined to comment to the media afterward.

According to prosecutors, the poker games in which Billups was allegedly involved with defrauded victims of an estimated $7M.

The arrests of Billups, Jones and Heat guard Terry Rozier, who was charged by the federal government with illegal activities regarding prop bets, shook up the league and the sports world just after the season began. The NBA, in response, is seeking to tighten controls regarding wagering on its games.